# How2Sketch: Generating Easy-To-Follow Tutorials for Sketching 3D Objects

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.07980 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1607.07980/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 27 Jul 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [WIR3D: Visually-Informed and Geometry-Aware 3D Shape Abstraction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.04813/) (2025)
- [Sketch-based Creativity Support Tools using Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.09991/) (2021)
- [Deep Sketch-Based 3D Modeling: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.03287/) (2026)
- [Computational Scaffolding of Composition, Value, and Color for Disciplined Drawing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.17268/) (2025)
- [Visual Intelligence through Human Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.06913/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Accurately drawing 3D objects is difficult for untrained individuals, as it requires an understanding of perspective and its effects on geometry and proportions. Step-by-step tutorials break the complex task of sketching an entire object down into easy-to-follow steps that even a novice can follow. However, creating such tutorials requires expert knowledge and is a time-consuming task. As a result, the availability of tutorials for a given object or viewpoint is limited. How2Sketch addresses this problem by automatically generating easy-to-follow tutorials for arbitrary 3D objects. Given a segmented 3D model and a camera viewpoint,it computes a sequence of steps for constructing a drawing scaffold comprised of geometric primitives, which helps the user draw the final contours in correct perspective and proportion. To make the drawing scaffold easy to construct, the algorithm solves for an ordering among the scaffolding primitives and explicitly makes small geometric modifications to the size and location of the object parts to simplify relative positioning. Technically, we formulate this scaffold construction as a single selection problem that simultaneously solves for the ordering and geometric changes of the primitives. We demonstrate our algorithm for generating tutorials on a variety of man-made objects and evaluate how easily the tutorials can be followed with a user study.